Taking a look at Ochocinco’s potential suitors

Posted by Mike Florio on June 7, 2012, 6:40 PM EDT

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Earlier in the hour on NBC SportsTalk, host Erik Kuselias asked me whether receiver Chad Ochocinco will draw more interest than former Bengals teammate Terrell Owens. Since any interest is necessarily more than none, Ochocinco likely will be in better position to continue his NFL career.

But where? Here’s a look at the possible suitors. In no particular order other than the order the names popped into my head.

Cincinnati Bengals: Don’t laugh. OK, go ahead and laugh. Coach Marvin Lewis put up with plenty over the years, and he won’t want to bring the Ochocircus back to town. But if assistant Hue Jackson, who referred last year to Chad as Jackson’s “son,” decides to lobby Lewis aggressively, Hue could wear Marvin down.

Miami Dolphins: The question of whether a team should be interested in any player ultimately comes down to a comparison of the player to the current talent on the depth chart. The Dolphins have Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, and Legedu Naanee. Enough said. Chad would help, and he also would drive interest for the looming Hard Knocks series.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills tried to land Robert Meachem in free agency, and the possibility of turning the Pats’ trash into a late-career treasure could intrigue G.M. Buddy Nix. Buffalo pounced on T.O. three years ago, and while they may be gun shy after dealing with Owens, Chad has a reputation for being far more playful than Owens, who is seen by some as simply malicious.

Washington Redskins: Several years ago, owner Daniel Snyder was willing to give up a couple of first-round picks for Chad. But that was before G.M. Bruce Allen and coach Mike Shanahan took the keys.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The good news for Chad is that former Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski is now the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. The bad news for Chad, possibly, is that former Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski is now the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. Bratkowski, like Lewis, has ridden the Ochocoaster, and Bratkowski may not want to get back on. If he does, however, that could be the best fit, given that Chad knows the offense — and given that he struggled mightily to learn a new one last year and, as evidenced by the Pats’ decision to cut him, this year.

Baltimore Ravens: With Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith leading the way, Ochocinco could play a Houshmandzadeh-style supporting role for one of the top teams in the AFC.

Houston Texans: They have only two receivers who have ever played in an NFL regular-season game. But the Texans seem to be very reluctant to throw the doors open for guys who crave attention.

Oakland Raiders: Carson Palmer knows him better than any quarterback. Again, that could be a good thing. And that could be a bad thing.

Dallas Cowboys: So desperate for a No. 3 receiver that even T.O.’s name has emerged in very soft whispers, Chad could be the best available complement to Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.

Minnesota Vikings: Look at the depth chart. He’d instantly be the second-best receiver on the roster, behind Percy Harvin.

Carolina Panthers: In Charlotte, Chad would improve a suspect receiving corps, and he’d be reunited with his former junior college teammate, Steve Smith.

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford still needs weapons, and Chad compares favorably to the receivers the team currently has.

Regardless of which team signs him, the challenge will be to let Chad be Chad. The Patriots tried to clip his wings in 2011, and being different off the field made him different on the field. He seemed so scared about screwing up his opportunity that he ultimately screwed up his opportunity. The next team that employs him has to be willing to embrace who he is, and to encourage him to be himself and be willing to make mistakes and not fear losing playing time or, eventually, his job.

Though Batman a/k/a T.O. may be done, Robin still has some run left in him. Regardless of where he lands, here’s hoping we all get one more glimpse of the old Chad.

Hue Jackson is coaching DBs & special teams in Cincinnati now, sort of broadening his coaching experience & resume’ from the other side of the ball now.

Palmer would probably quit again if 85 walked through the door in Oakland. They were like some old married couple fighting all the time (mostly over 85 going the wrong way) towards the end of their run together.

“The question of whether a team should be interested in any player ultimately comes down to a comparison of the player to the current talent on the depth chart. ”
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Actually, it ultimately comes down to how a prospective player will fit into the offensive scheme in place – unless the team is willing to completely alter its scheme to fit a player’s specific skills.

Given that Joe Philbin is implementing a sophisticated Packers-style passing offense that requires precise route-running and on-the-move decision making, I can’t think of a worse place for the 34-year-old Ochocinco to end up than in Miami after the disaster in New England adapting to a passing offense that required precise route-running and on-the-move decision making.

If Miami signs Ochocinco, then it’s the sign of a franchise truly operating without a compass.

Minny is a good call, or some other offense with a young QB that isn’t too complex with option routes etc. By all accounts Ocho’s physical tools are still pretty good and he’s a good teamate. The Pats offense, with all it’s precision, messed with his head so much he didn’t know where to line up.

I think that Carolina is his best fit. He could go there, reunite with Steve Smith and Newton could really make Ohco viable. And that’s some place where Ocho could keep his mouth shut and stay out of trouble. Okay…I was just kidding about the previous sentence. hahahaha

If this guy can’t catch passes from Brady he can’t catch them from anybody. As for Miami’s “interest” they’ve ignored nearly every free agent during their rebuilding so far. Why would they suddenly take on a failed, aging problem like him?

“Regardless of which team signs him, the challenge will be to let Chad be Chad. The Patriots tried to clip his wings in 2011, and being different off the field made him different on the field. He seemed so scared about screwing up his opportunity that he ultimately screwed up his opportunity. The next team that employs him has to be willing to embrace who he is, and to encourage him to be himself and be willing to make mistakes and not fear losing playing time or, eventually, his job.”
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Sorry, but I think this is way off base. Chad simply could not pick up the offense. It’s as simple as that. He could not be trusted to be where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there and that is why Brady wouldn’t throw to him. They gave him the off season to study it and when came to OTAs he again demonstrated that he still could not be trusted by continuing to make mental mistakes such as lining up incorrectly on plays. It became obvious at this point that Chad wasn’t getting it.

The notion that by asking him not to act like a clown the Pats somehow inhibited his ability to produce on the field is just not based in reality and frankly… just silly. This had absolutely nothing to do with allowing “Chad to be Chad”. Truth is, Chad didn’t perform on the field because his mental capacity wasn’t up to the task of ingesting, comprehending and executing the offense. Nothing more to it than that.

I think you’re a Raider fan at heart. You seem to always comment on articles concerning the Raiders. It’s better than some Non-Championship has-beens that wear baby blue and canary yellow.

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There goes your ignorance on display again. Do some research before opening up your pie hole, idiot. The Chargers did win a Championship circa 1961, beating the Boston Patriots to claim the old AFL WOLRD CHAMPIONSHIP. Moron.

I’ll take a stab with own take on some of the teams presented by the author.

Cincy: NO. The Bengals have a lot of good young talent at WR and the offense is different than when Ocho left. He’s not the kind of receiver that would thrive in this offense IMO – and he doesn’t like to go over the middle. I don’t see it.

Miami: I jokingly made a tweet to him about this but it makes a certain amount of sense. The talent pool isn’t very deep and Chad might take less to play in his home town (if it comes down to multiple offers). The owner clearly wants some juice with Hard Knocks and Chad would bring that (HBO wouldn’t mind as it’s a new spin for them – a veteran trying to make a comeback).

Jacksonville: I actually think this is a very strong possibility. He knows the offense, which is a positive. The Jags are trying to bring along a very talented young receiver in Blackmon – one with certain issues (DUI and possibly attitude). Chad gets a bad rap in this regard – he works very hard and he doesn’t drink alcohol at all. I think he’d actually be a very good influence on Blackmon. For Ocho, Jax is also plenty close to his home base of Miami.

Minnesota: A team that needs talent at WR for sure, though I’m not sure if Ponder and him are a good match-up since that’s another WCO deal, right? Leslie Frazier does have a familiarity with him from his brief stint in Cincy though.

Dallas: Would Ocho willingly go to a team as a #3 right off the bat (from the examples cited above he probably has choices) Does TO have Ocho’s ear about these situations? If so would that make Chad reluctant to join Romo?

Jets: Surprised they didn’t come up. Ex-Patriots get signed by the Jets almost as a matter of habit (and vice-versa) and Ocho certainly would be comfortable in a carnival-like atmosphere. And with Ocho probably would be the best Chad on the team over Schilens)

Ochostinko would NOT be the second-best receiver on the Vikings. Did you even watch him play last year? Simpson, Jenkins, and the two fourth-round picks are all better now, have more upside, and are much younger.

The Vikes are not one good wide receiver away from doing something special. Let our young team develop another year to see what we have. Send him over to the dumping grounds next door with the Green Bay Hackers. Let them pull off another discount double choke. Chad is a good character and very generous though. They could use some of that in cheeseland where their team leader Erin walks around in stupid rasta hats acting like an a–clown. He would be an immediate #2 for that group.

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford still needs weapons, and Chad compares favorably to the receivers the team currently has.
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Why would you bring Chad in when he compares to the players you already have? They aren’t very good. I mean no offense but they aren’t. Besides, after Wes, there is a huge drop off in talent for WR’s in New England. If Chad can’t get into the starting line up there, what is that telling you?

Not Carolina. Absolutely no chance. If we had to bring in an aging WR, we would have signed Plaxico.

We have a decent amount of weapons – Smith, Greg Olsen, and all 3 backs (DeAngelo, Stewart, Tolbert) are excellent receiving backs. We have some young guys – Brandon LaFell, David Gettis, Pilares, Joe Adams, Darvin Adams – competing for the #2 WR slot, and we need to see if any of them can be the guy (I think LaFell and Joe Adams are the best of the lot, and can be very good). I don’t think Chad EightFive has anything left anyway.

“Regardless of which team signs him, the challenge will be to let Chad be Chad. The Patriots tried to clip his wings in 2011, and being different off the field made him different on the field…”
wrong.
The guy is just dumb. They let Chad be Chad in Cincinnati because he was productive and he wasn’t smart enough to understand how it hurt the team. Marvin simply weighed the value of his production versus his distraction to the team and made a decision to live with it. Of course he spent several years trying to get through to him, but Chad was not smart enough to figure it out.

I strongly disagree with the Vikings statement. He is definitely not better that Simpson and would probably have a hard time outplaying Jenkins and Aramashodu. Ocho would fit in just like Berrian did- which is not at all.

I was really hoping/expecting to find a fully blank page after clicking on the headline. ‘Cause the truth is that nobody wants the loudmouth. Good luck paying your astronomical child support with reality-t.v. checks!

Someone will take a flyer on this guy and then we will know; your amateur analysis is not required!
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Isn’t amateur analysis the whole point of PFT? If you disagree with somebody, go ahead and disagree, but if you don’t even have your own point to make, don’t tell someone else to shut up in order to enjoy a sad little power trip.
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giorgiom3 says: Jun 7, 2012 6:45 PM

… and then be bankrupt in a few years *crosses fingers*
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Really? The man has literally spent his entire life trying to entertain you (on and off the field) and you are crossing your fingers for him to go bankrupt? You may not like the guy, but he has never done anything to bring harm or distress on you or your family. And you hope that he will become a destitute, miserable burden of the state following his playing career? Why would you ever wish that on anybody?
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ranadicus says: Jun 7, 2012 7:17 PM

If this guy can’t catch passes from Brady he can’t catch them from anybody. As for Miami’s “interest” they’ve ignored nearly every free agent during their rebuilding so far. Why would they suddenly take on a failed, aging problem like him?
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Ocho did not fail to catch passes in New England, he simply failed to get on the field in order to catch passes. While that is a significant blot on his resume, and it’s very questionable whether he could function in Philbin’s offense, there’s no question he still has the physical talent to start in Miami. Plus he would sell tickets, and the warm weather would be good for a geezer like Ocho.

And Miami ignored every free agent this season? Really? Yeah, I remember them talking on ESPN about the way Miami ignored the hell out of Jeff Fisher, Peyton Manning, the No. 2 overall draft pick, and Matt Flynn. Didn’t Ryan Clark tweet something about how everyone was trying to play for Miami, but Ross and Ireland just ignored them all?

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thegreatgabbert says: Jun 7, 2012 7:08 PM
If I’m the Jags, I sign Och for a couple of years, punt on Blackmon, and look to next year’s crop of draft eligible wide receivers for the future.
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Really? Cut the number 5 overall pick (who many say is the most talented receiver to enter the pros in the last few years) in favor of an aging veteran, and focus on a remarkably lackluster class of 2013 receivers?

Jacksonville fans should be delighted you are not the Jags. On the other hand, Tarps R Us is kind of bummed out.

Ravens signed Jacoby Jones as their #3. With LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss & David Reed, they probably have a glut of receivers this season. Plus, the locker room would never accept a player like Ochocinco. Work, practice and preparation are what earn respect in Baltimore. Performance on the field is only a byproduct.

The Vikings have spent all off season taking actions to get younger. Zero percent chance they take a flyer on TO.

Harvin has a spot guaranteed. During the OTAs Simpson has impressed them. Michael Jenkins and Aromashodu will round out the WR until Simpson’s suspension is over. The Vikings also drafted 2 kids who will be coveting playing time, (Jarius Wright and Greg Childs aka ‘Steal of the Draft’.

I think you’re a Raider fan at heart. You seem to always comment on articles concerning the Raiders. It’s better than some Non-Championship has-beens that wear baby blue and canary yellow.

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There goes your ignorance on display again. Do some research before opening up your pie hole, idiot. The Chargers did win a Championship circa 1961, beating the Boston Patriots to claim the old AFL WOLRD CHAMPIONSHIP. Moron.
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Not that big of a deal because we are talking 50+ years later but if you’re going to call people names and act all knowing at least get your facts correct:
AFL Champions
1960-Houston Oilers
1961-Houston Oilers
1962-Dallas Texans
1963-San Diego Chargers